PATRICK BARCLAY MISSES MARTIN EDWARDS

Last updated : 26 January 2004 By Editor

This from Barclay in the Telegraph:

‘Even people with no particular affection for ManchesterUnited are entitled to be concerned at the apparentvulnerability of the Premiership's strongest club, whosedisparate ownership may come to be reviewed as a fool'sparadise. I am almost tempted to cock an ear for the firstchants of "There's only one Martin Edwards".

‘Already I hear snorts from Frank Holt, of Littleborough,and countless others who detested Edwards throughout hisstewardship, the last vestiges of which went last year. Butyou take as you find and I always found Edwards to be a nicechap as well as - more relevant in the context of those whomay seek to take control - a genuine United supporter.

‘He was not a perfect guardian of the club's standing andlucky to have been guided away from the notions of sellingout to Michael Knighton and Robert Maxwell. But, given thathis father had been in charge during United's rise underMatt Busby, and that he himself headed the board duringtheir renewal under Ferguson, the Edwards family couldhardly be described as a malign influence on the club, evenif Busby and Ferguson were the principal generators offootballing and financial wealth.

‘Now United are a plaything. Behind the panache ofFerguson's team and the splendour of their stadium lies abrand. And brands can change. True, so can clubs. But it isimportant, crucially important, that they are commanded bypeople who care. Marks and Spencer were once the ManchesterUnited of affordable retail.’

But Mr. Barclay who was it who put United into thisquestionable position in the first place? Who was it thatfirst raised the flotation issued in 1991, at such a time(all Reds saving up for Rotterdam) and price as to excludethe fans from taking part? Who was it who then sold more andmore of his share until over 50% of the club lay in thehands of institutions leaving us vulnerable to the exactproblems we see now? Who was in control of the club duringthe 90s when the brand was created, the club’s badgedesecrated and the exploitation of the supporters at itspeak? You guessed it – Martin Edwards.